Gennie DeWeese

Though I never met Gennie, like many I felt I knew her through Bob Pirsig's writings. I missed an opportunity to visit as a "Pirsig Pilgrim" earlier this year, and sadly will now never have that opportunity. My condolences to her family.

About a dozen years ago I bought a small brown faceted cup from Josh at the Sweet Pea Art Fair. Josh remarked "I can't believe you want that tiny cup! It holds nothing!" and Ginny smiled and said "It looks just like her daughter". And it did. It was small and round and brown and sturdy and sweet and you could cup it in your hand and it demanded attention. This is who Ginny was to me; observant, warm, humorous, attentive... brilliant. She was always generous and always present. I was...

The passing of Gennie will leave a void in the art world. We recently read about Gennie in the Montana Magazine. With great sadness we say good bye to a friend who was like family.

I am sorry to hear of Gennie's death. We were friends in 1958-60 when my ex-husband, Bob Pirsig, was teaching at MSU. I always admired Gennie for her art, her way with kids, her obvious intelligence and her general attitude toward life: casual but committed. I actually remember seeing her in that production of Brecht’s Three Penny Opera. She was a wonderful woman. My sincere condolences to her family.

I mourn the passing of a luminary in the arts community and a wonderful woman.

Cary and I were very happy to hear that all the DeWeese's were able to get together for one more Thanksgiving. Gennie was a remarkable lady and lives on in her family and her art. I fondly think about how she took 60 Minutes to task for their coverage of art. Our hearts go out to our friends Josh and Rosie and Josh's siblings.

I am sorry to have missed the opportunity to know Gennie personally, but she lives forever in a 1980 wood cut print, "Mary Had a Little Lamb" that has been a favorite piece of mine for many years. The picture captured such a gentleness and loving relationship, I always wanted to know more about the person who created it.

My sympathy to the family on your personal loss and to the greater community that she mentored and graced with her artwork these many years.

Dear Josh & Rosie: Very sorry to see your Mom has died, Josh. The picture and article are really great, though. I miss you two here in Helena and will be thinking of you more in the next few days. Be well,